United Continental Holdings Inc. is pushing ahead with its aggressive growth plan as robust demand enables the airline to boost fares even as it expands the seat supply.

Revenue for each seat flown a mile, a proxy for pricing power, will rise 1 to 3 percent in the second quarter, the No. 3 U.S. carrier said in a statement Tuesday as it reported earnings. That would be the third straight increase in the benchmark, also known as unit revenue.

The pricing strength bolsters United’s bet that it can increase the number of seats and flights without sparking a fare war that would drag down profit. The carrier’s plan to boost seating capacity as much as 6 percent a year through 2020 sparked a stock sell-off in January as investors anticipated depressed fares, especially in the Midwestern U.S. markets where United is focusing much of its growth.

The parent company of United Airlines said it earned $147 million, or 52 cents a share, in the quarter, compared with $99 million, or 32 cents a share, in the year-ago period. Revenue rose to $9.03 billion from $8.43 billion a year ago.

Global economy at risk, IMF warns

WASHINGTON >> The International Monetary Fund warned Tuesday that rising trade tensions between the United States and China risk undermining a global economy that the IMF thinks will otherwise grow solidly this year.

The lending agency has kept its forecast for worldwide growth this year at 3.9 percent, which would be its fastest pace since 2011. But the IMF’s chief economist, Maurice Obstfeld, said this could be derailed by a trade conflict.

Speaking at a news conference, Obstfeld said the IMF had run economic simulations about the impact of a far-reaching trade war that would include across-the-board tariffs of 10 percent. The computer simulations, he said, showed a “fairly substantial” impact from tariffs of that magnitude.

Global financial markets would likely also endure damage from rising threats of tariffs, Obstfeld said. Investors already have endured stomach-churning swings this year as markets have reacted to the perceived likelihood of a trade war, especially in response to Trump administration statements.

The IMF issued the update to its World Economic Outlook on the eve of spring meetings in Washington this week of the 189-nation IMF, the World Bank and the Group of 20 major economies.

ON THE MOVE

American Savings Bank has announced that the following two new employees have joined the American Insurance and Investments department at its Honolulu office:

>> Michael Hatchell is a new vice president and financial consultant. Hatchell has served as a financial consultant as of 2011 and holds Series 6, 7 and 65 security registrations as well as health, life, accident, variable life and variable annuities licenses.

>> Alan Lee is another new vice president and financial consultant. Lee has served as a financial consultant since 1999 and holds Series 7, 63 and 66 securities registrations as well as life and health insurance licenses.

IQ 360 has announced that Lissa Hardbarger is the agency’s new UX/UI designer in its Honolulu office. She will be the key person in developing digital solutions for the agency’s integrated communications and marketing campaigns. Hardbarger previously interned at Mix Plate Media where she worked on multiple media projects for various clients.